Some of you may know that within the next months the new game of Jane Jensen ( Gabriel Knight 1-3) will be released: Gray matter.
And it´s gonna be one of these few outstanding adventure games, I allow myself to predict that, everything I know until now makes me go completely nuts
Ok, even if I wouldn´t know anything , the name Jane Jensen and the circumstance that her husband Robert Holmes is doing the music again would make me shiver.
I haven´t been anticipating any game as much as this since Tex Murphy Overseer and Gabriel Knight 3 ( Which is quite a while now, gosh we´re getting old
)
Anybody else waiting for Gray matter?
And it´s gonna be one of these few outstanding adventure games, I allow myself to predict that, everything I know until now makes me go completely nuts
Ok, even if I wouldn´t know anything , the name Jane Jensen and the circumstance that her husband Robert Holmes is doing the music again would make me shiver.
I haven´t been anticipating any game as much as this since Tex Murphy Overseer and Gabriel Knight 3 ( Which is quite a while now, gosh we´re getting old
)Anybody else waiting for Gray matter?
Looks good enough, what Console is it coming out on???
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It will be released on PC only. And even though it looks very very nice, you can be sure that especially the depth of the story and the atmosphere are gonna make this one a Musthave.
I think everyone who ever played a game by Jane knows what I´m talking about
Jane is pretty unique and after all my adventure years I have to say no one has written more intelligent and complex stories than her and Aaron Conners.
I think everyone who ever played a game by Jane knows what I´m talking about
Jane is pretty unique and after all my adventure years I have to say no one has written more intelligent and complex stories than her and Aaron Conners.
another one for my to do list thank ya
Well I´m not really sure about thatJen wrote:
She's a good writer no doubt, but drama is easy, comedy is hard.
But I don´t expect the game to have extreme hardware recommendations. I live on the campus of my university but when I´m in my old home on the weekends I played some of the current adventure games on a ( pretty bad) laptop there and they worked. If it would be a 3 D Game things might be different. I guess the only thing that might happen, could be the circumstance that you would have to adjust the graphic details on your pc, beside that it will probably just work fine. I mentioned Robert Holmes -Janes husband who did the Gabriel Knight soundtracks.
His Gabriel Knight music really still sends chills down my spine after all these years.
I found 2 GK music related videos on youtube.
There have been many different themes in the GK games , so this is only a tiny part of it, if you think of the very extensive GK soundtracks. The first video is by someone who is playing a little bit from GK2 and 3 on piano- Simply wonderful . If you like to, give it a listen, it´s worth it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBKiAIYE ... re=related
The second one is from Holmes directly , it´s a variation of one of the themes. Would be great to see all of the other GK themes on there as well- I don´t know but especially if you play the games they´re really touching and they match the melancholic and slightly depressive side of the GK games . Oh yeah and before I forget to mention it Holmes is really a genious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiHHE6FJ ... re=related
EDIT: Ok i found one of the other mainthemes: This time one oft the threatening ones and what a great sequence in the game this is (GK2). If you haven played it here you can get an impression of how atmospheric the GK games were, and how much the music added to that factor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ6XNSjv ... re=related
His Gabriel Knight music really still sends chills down my spine after all these years.
I found 2 GK music related videos on youtube.
There have been many different themes in the GK games , so this is only a tiny part of it, if you think of the very extensive GK soundtracks. The first video is by someone who is playing a little bit from GK2 and 3 on piano- Simply wonderful . If you like to, give it a listen, it´s worth it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBKiAIYE ... re=relatedThe second one is from Holmes directly , it´s a variation of one of the themes. Would be great to see all of the other GK themes on there as well- I don´t know but especially if you play the games they´re really touching and they match the melancholic and slightly depressive side of the GK games . Oh yeah and before I forget to mention it Holmes is really a genious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiHHE6FJ ... re=related
EDIT: Ok i found one of the other mainthemes: This time one oft the threatening ones and what a great sequence in the game this is (GK2). If you haven played it here you can get an impression of how atmospheric the GK games were, and how much the music added to that factor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ6XNSjv ... re=related
This is the first I've heard of it; though those screen shots look pretty cool. Assuming I'll ever have time to play games again, I'd be willing to check it out. Like some of the others though, hoping it won't require a really new graphics card. Either that, or I'll have to wait for maybe a year until I get a new computer.
the graphics definitely looked outstanding. I too have never heard of this series...you don't happen to have a link that talks about the series..kind of intrigued now...
"Some men aren’t looking for anything logical. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.”
Adninsreaction I guess you were talking about the Gabriel Knight series, on http://www.justadventure.com you can find reviews of all 3 games ( which all received A marks).
But here´s some quotes from GK1 and 2 reviews. I think what you can hear in these quotes, is the extremely high status the Gabriel Knight games have. And by the way: These reviews really don´t exaggerate
GK1:
--
Gabriel Knight is such a wonderful game that if you haven't played it yet you should run, not walk, to your nearest software store and grab a copy. The game has recently been rereleased in anticipation of Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned. The game comes bundled with Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within, which is just as captivating as GK1. The set also contains a novelization of the game, and although I haven't read it myself, I'm sure with Jane Jensen having authored it, it makes a good read. Gabriel Knight receives a final grade of A. -
-It is hard to review a game like "Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers". It is so good I don't know what I should talk about first. Let me open my review with this statement: "Sins of the Fathers" is one of my absolute top favorites, and, quite objectively said, it is perhaps the highest achievement of the entire adventure genre. Yes, it is that good.
When we say "adventure", we often think "comic adventure", and the reason for that is simple: the greatest classic adventures are comedies. "Serious" adventure games have always been much less popular. "Sins of the Fathers" is not the first attempt on this field, but it is the first serious classic adventure that takes hardcore puzzle-solving gameplay and charming humor that made comedy adventures so great, and uses it to create an amazingly intense, atmospheric experience with a touch of horror, featuring an intricate story-line and an unpreceeded level of realism.
As banal as it sounds: "Sins of the Fathers" succeeds where others fail. How to make an adventure with puzzles that are hard enough, yet that do not distract from the realistic setting of the game? How to combine humor with horror? How to write a story that is supernatural and yet so natural at the same time? How to create lovable characters that resemble real people in everything they do, without becoming dull? Or rather: how to create a perfect serious adventure? Play this game and see yourself. Summary:
Perfect in every aspect. An achievement that wasn't surpassed even by its sequels
--Adventure Classic Gaming
Sierra On-Line makes a splash in the history of adventure gaming with the release of Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers. Under the direction of writer Jane Jensen, the first title in Gabriel Knight series is the among the first adventure games that feature fictional stories based on real life legends or events. Thoroughly researched, Jensen has brought an unparalleled sense of authenticity that draws the player deep into the game. Backed by a first-rate production including a talented Hollywood caliber voice cast, Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers sets a standard for all other developers on how an adventure game should be made. -
Believable, interesting characters and a gripping storyline combined with great investigative game play based on true historical and religious backgrounds. One of the best adventure games ever written. Bottom Line: The high point (and swan song) of Sierra's 2-D adventure era — a wonderful introduction to the characters and world of Gabriel Knight. -
-In conclusion, Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers is an excellent game. It is a great deal of fun, with excellent cut-scenes and backdrops, and stirring music. The writing is very good, providing excellent characterization and a strong story. The game does have a few minor problems, but their importance diminish in the face of the many strengths of Gabriel Knight. -
Final score: 90/100
GK2:
Jane Jensen is the best storyteller to write computer games. No one can deny it or say someone else is better. If you believe Take 2's Black Dahlia has a storyline "that blends reality and fiction in perfect rapport," then you just have to repent and pray to be forgiven ... and play Gabriel Knight 2 to see what a strong storyline should be like...What Jane Jensen and her team did was create a completely different world for the player to roam in. So the werewolf story is actually nothing more than a MacGuffin, in the Hitchcockian sense, for a historical journey through Bavaria. I believe this is the quality that makes this game a timeless classic. Read my lips: "time-less" ... You can't use that word for any other game. Or any other computer-related product for that matter ... Everything fades away in the immense pace of this hasty industry called the computer industry. But not GK2. This is one marvel of a game that is groundbreaking, trendsetting, avant garde, and, most importantly, made for adult minds (no, I'm not talking about raunchiness). Let me put it this way: They actually composed an opera for this game that would be good enough to pose as a lost one by Wagner.
--
-I was so mesmerized by the first GK game that I did not think the second one would top it. As it turned out, it greatly exceeded my expectations. I would consider Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within not just the best GK game, but also the best adventure game I have ever played. This is the reason why the GK series is among the best computer games ever made. The whole gameplay experience is something I will always remember. It just proves that computer games can be just as thrilling and exciting as motion pictures, even if games do not necessarily look like movies.-
-Many reviewers named this the 'Game of the Year' for 1995, and we well understand why. It is the one of most professionally produced, realistic games that we have ever played, and gave us a real glimpse of the possibilities for gaming in the virtual reality world of the future.-
- "Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within" is not only the best computer game ever made, it's also one of my favorite horror movies. I guess you could say it's half-game, half-movie...although, in truth, it's so well-researched and cleverly written that it reminds me more of a novel. Who cares what it is? It's just awesome.-
A fascinating story of temptation and redemption which further develops the characters and themes started in the series' first episode, told against the backdrop of the life and death of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Great gameplay in two modes — modern mystery investigation, and historical research. By the end of the story, Gabriel and Grace find that they have been profoundly changed by their experiences — an unusual quality for a computer game. While containing moments of comedy, the entire game is permeated by a quality of sadness, most acutely found in the form of Ludwig himself.
The Beast Within is an incredible achievement. While not flawless, any problems with the game are easily outshined by the wonderful storyline, deep background, and excellent puzzle design. I highly recommend it to any adventure gamer as a shining example of what could be accomplished with Full Motion Video, as well as a classic gameplay experience. Bottom Line: A wonderful follow-up to Sins of the Fathers. One of the few computer games to actually involve personal, meaningful growth in a player-character. Easily one of the best Full Motion Video games ever made.
A masterpiece by any standard, Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within is remembered as one of the greatest CD-ROM adventure games ever. It's storyline, complex plotting, and compelling characters have made it really stand out amoung other games, and whereas the production value can't match Hollywood, the acting, storyline and overall flow of the game puts many movies to shame. This game is by far the best Gabriel Knight title if not the best game I have ever played. I will never forget the indredible story Jane Jensen told, and I urge anyone who hasn't played this game to do so. Overall, The Beast Within is one of the best games ever made. The storyline, dramatic plot, and compelling characters really add atmosphere to the game.
The Bottom Line
"The Beast Within" is an outstanding adventure game. It had to face some problems connected to the limitations of the technology its creators chose, but in the end, thanks to its fantastic story and profound content, it managed to remain a great game and a worthy sequel to the immortal "Sins of the Fathers".
But here´s some quotes from GK1 and 2 reviews. I think what you can hear in these quotes, is the extremely high status the Gabriel Knight games have. And by the way: These reviews really don´t exaggerate
GK1:
--
Gabriel Knight is such a wonderful game that if you haven't played it yet you should run, not walk, to your nearest software store and grab a copy. The game has recently been rereleased in anticipation of Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned. The game comes bundled with Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within, which is just as captivating as GK1. The set also contains a novelization of the game, and although I haven't read it myself, I'm sure with Jane Jensen having authored it, it makes a good read. Gabriel Knight receives a final grade of A. -
-It is hard to review a game like "Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers". It is so good I don't know what I should talk about first. Let me open my review with this statement: "Sins of the Fathers" is one of my absolute top favorites, and, quite objectively said, it is perhaps the highest achievement of the entire adventure genre. Yes, it is that good.
When we say "adventure", we often think "comic adventure", and the reason for that is simple: the greatest classic adventures are comedies. "Serious" adventure games have always been much less popular. "Sins of the Fathers" is not the first attempt on this field, but it is the first serious classic adventure that takes hardcore puzzle-solving gameplay and charming humor that made comedy adventures so great, and uses it to create an amazingly intense, atmospheric experience with a touch of horror, featuring an intricate story-line and an unpreceeded level of realism.
As banal as it sounds: "Sins of the Fathers" succeeds where others fail. How to make an adventure with puzzles that are hard enough, yet that do not distract from the realistic setting of the game? How to combine humor with horror? How to write a story that is supernatural and yet so natural at the same time? How to create lovable characters that resemble real people in everything they do, without becoming dull? Or rather: how to create a perfect serious adventure? Play this game and see yourself. Summary:
Perfect in every aspect. An achievement that wasn't surpassed even by its sequels
--Adventure Classic Gaming
Sierra On-Line makes a splash in the history of adventure gaming with the release of Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers. Under the direction of writer Jane Jensen, the first title in Gabriel Knight series is the among the first adventure games that feature fictional stories based on real life legends or events. Thoroughly researched, Jensen has brought an unparalleled sense of authenticity that draws the player deep into the game. Backed by a first-rate production including a talented Hollywood caliber voice cast, Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers sets a standard for all other developers on how an adventure game should be made. -
Believable, interesting characters and a gripping storyline combined with great investigative game play based on true historical and religious backgrounds. One of the best adventure games ever written. Bottom Line: The high point (and swan song) of Sierra's 2-D adventure era — a wonderful introduction to the characters and world of Gabriel Knight. -
-In conclusion, Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers is an excellent game. It is a great deal of fun, with excellent cut-scenes and backdrops, and stirring music. The writing is very good, providing excellent characterization and a strong story. The game does have a few minor problems, but their importance diminish in the face of the many strengths of Gabriel Knight. -
Final score: 90/100
GK2:
Jane Jensen is the best storyteller to write computer games. No one can deny it or say someone else is better. If you believe Take 2's Black Dahlia has a storyline "that blends reality and fiction in perfect rapport," then you just have to repent and pray to be forgiven ... and play Gabriel Knight 2 to see what a strong storyline should be like...What Jane Jensen and her team did was create a completely different world for the player to roam in. So the werewolf story is actually nothing more than a MacGuffin, in the Hitchcockian sense, for a historical journey through Bavaria. I believe this is the quality that makes this game a timeless classic. Read my lips: "time-less" ... You can't use that word for any other game. Or any other computer-related product for that matter ... Everything fades away in the immense pace of this hasty industry called the computer industry. But not GK2. This is one marvel of a game that is groundbreaking, trendsetting, avant garde, and, most importantly, made for adult minds (no, I'm not talking about raunchiness). Let me put it this way: They actually composed an opera for this game that would be good enough to pose as a lost one by Wagner.
--
-I was so mesmerized by the first GK game that I did not think the second one would top it. As it turned out, it greatly exceeded my expectations. I would consider Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within not just the best GK game, but also the best adventure game I have ever played. This is the reason why the GK series is among the best computer games ever made. The whole gameplay experience is something I will always remember. It just proves that computer games can be just as thrilling and exciting as motion pictures, even if games do not necessarily look like movies.-
-Many reviewers named this the 'Game of the Year' for 1995, and we well understand why. It is the one of most professionally produced, realistic games that we have ever played, and gave us a real glimpse of the possibilities for gaming in the virtual reality world of the future.-
- "Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within" is not only the best computer game ever made, it's also one of my favorite horror movies. I guess you could say it's half-game, half-movie...although, in truth, it's so well-researched and cleverly written that it reminds me more of a novel. Who cares what it is? It's just awesome.-
A fascinating story of temptation and redemption which further develops the characters and themes started in the series' first episode, told against the backdrop of the life and death of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Great gameplay in two modes — modern mystery investigation, and historical research. By the end of the story, Gabriel and Grace find that they have been profoundly changed by their experiences — an unusual quality for a computer game. While containing moments of comedy, the entire game is permeated by a quality of sadness, most acutely found in the form of Ludwig himself.
The Beast Within is an incredible achievement. While not flawless, any problems with the game are easily outshined by the wonderful storyline, deep background, and excellent puzzle design. I highly recommend it to any adventure gamer as a shining example of what could be accomplished with Full Motion Video, as well as a classic gameplay experience. Bottom Line: A wonderful follow-up to Sins of the Fathers. One of the few computer games to actually involve personal, meaningful growth in a player-character. Easily one of the best Full Motion Video games ever made.
A masterpiece by any standard, Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within is remembered as one of the greatest CD-ROM adventure games ever. It's storyline, complex plotting, and compelling characters have made it really stand out amoung other games, and whereas the production value can't match Hollywood, the acting, storyline and overall flow of the game puts many movies to shame. This game is by far the best Gabriel Knight title if not the best game I have ever played. I will never forget the indredible story Jane Jensen told, and I urge anyone who hasn't played this game to do so. Overall, The Beast Within is one of the best games ever made. The storyline, dramatic plot, and compelling characters really add atmosphere to the game.
The Bottom Line
"The Beast Within" is an outstanding adventure game. It had to face some problems connected to the limitations of the technology its creators chose, but in the end, thanks to its fantastic story and profound content, it managed to remain a great game and a worthy sequel to the immortal "Sins of the Fathers".
I also looked for a gray matter preview on the web, here you can read the preview and find out what it´s all about.
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3162065
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3162065
VonGlower wrote:Well I´m not really sure about thatJen wrote:
She's a good writer no doubt, but drama is easy, comedy is hard.
Good point, VG. It actually could be just what the genre needed. The last I had heard she was working on an Agatha Christie title, so it's awesome to know that she's gone back to true adventure games.
I was fortunate enough to meet her twice. Since she's a WA resident, we were able to get her to do a book signing at our Barnes and Noble when her GK novels came out.
Then again at Gen Con '99 when her Millenium Rising novel was hitting. So count me in on picking up the game when it hits, I support the genre, no doubt.
Thanks again for the heads up.